Your Creative Career: turn your passion into a fulfilling and financially rewarding lifestyle by Anna Sabino. 

3/5 rating. 

Book #126 of 2019. Read November 11, 2019.

This book was okay, with some great writing in the beginning of the book, followed by somewhat of a slog in the middle, and a decent ending. It is a mixture of what it takes for you to make a jump from a boring life with a traditional 9-to-5 that you hate, and into a career that you love; combined with Anna’s specific experience in starting her own jewelry business.

This book started off phenomenally! I absolutely loved the introduction and first 2 chapters as they discussed some about the people who are stuck and content (really discontent) with being in a mediocre job and life, and what it takes to make the move to change those circumstances. As a person who saved money to escape this mediocre world, jumped ship and is doing what I can to live a full-life on my own terms, these chapters resonated with me to an unbelievable degree. I was ready to have a book tell me what to do next with my life (still waiting for that realization)!…Alas, the book after this took a pretty lame, but conventional turn.

Basically the rest of the book goes over more specific ideas about the importance of a good product, listening to customers, and other key points to succeeding as an entrepreneur. Anna does mention some pretty useful ideas, especially her “Pivot Plan” for how to go from your boring job now to the career you want, some useful pricing tips, and a discussion of social media.

Overall, if you are discontented with your current job (something far too many people are), and have a specific product or service you are looking to bring to market, this book would be useful for you. The book wasn’t a waste of time for me, but if you aren’t looking to get into entrepreneurship, maybe read the introduction and first 2 chapters to get some motivation to at least find your dream job. Otherwise it might be a waste of time for you. Just read those in the bookstore and leave the rest of the book for some other soul to read and save your money for a better book to take home.

Quotes:

“Those who try living their dream have time to pivot, change direction, and refocus on what really fulfills them. They carefully design their lives regardless of social pressures and other constraints. There is no thinking outside the box for them; they don’t have any boxes – period. They set their own rules, experiment, and end up truly living their dream.”

“There are so many unwritten books and screenplays, so many undiscovered voices, so much unfulfilled potential. You don’t want to join that crowd. Start living by your own rules, maximizing your potential. Feel excited about life; don’t be overcome by the routine and watch the adventures pass you by.”

“Dream doers: They live on their own terms without wasting any time to figure out how they will make  it happen. They give up security and comfort, accepting the discomfort of the unknown. They quit jobs that pay well simply because this is not what they want to do. They are firm, persistent, and immune to social pressure of those who wish they were able to do the same. Dream doers don’t care that they give up what others call ‘opportunity of a lifetime’; they don’t mind quitting an attractive position, knowing they will be immediately replaced by someone who will consider himself lucky. They feel they have no time to waste; they want their dream no matter the cost. They are usually not understood, and they may lose friends, break relationships, and distance themselves from those who don’t show understanding and support.”

“Living life by default instead of life by design is not going with the flow. It’s settling. Don’t settle. Start designing your dream life.”

“What if we ceased feeling inadequate and stopped playing a victim? If we refocused our efforts on our own progress, we’d start thriving. To do that, we need to accept where we are and who we are, and wholeheartedly know that we are enough.”

“Stop what you are doing and let this sink in: you are enough.”

“‘The first draft of anything is shit’ says Ernest Hemingway.”

IG Link.